discover your potential booklet.pdf · critical analysis of data. extended essay ... a level...

DISCOVER YOUR POTENTIAL

Post-16 Choices Booklet 2016-17

www.discoveryschool.org.uk [email protected] 0191 272 1111 Discovery School, Blandford Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BT

http://www.discoveryschool.org.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

INTRODUCTION

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To study AS/A2 qualifications at

Discovery School you need 5 GCSEs A*-

C including English and Mathematics as

a minimum entry requirement and a

grade B or above in the subjects you wish

to study at AS/A2 Level. If you meet the

‘preferred entry requirements’ stated in

this booklet you will be in line with

national average entry grades. However

if your grades are lower, because

Discovery School is defined equally by its

teaching and learning excellence and

innovation as by its warmth and

inclusivity, we will always personally

interview each student, along with their

parents/carers, to ensure that Discovery

School is able to help you realise your

ambitions, whatever they may be.

CONTENTS

- Biology

- Chemistry

- Computing

- English

- Engineering

- Further Maths

- Geography

- Maths

- Physics

- Product Design

FOR MORE INFORMATION

PLEASE CONTACT

Dr Wendy Allen

Principal

[email protected]

A LEVEL BIOLOGY

PREFERRED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

GCSE Biology B or above

or GCSE Core & Additional Science

A or above

plus GCSE Mathematics B or above

AQA BIOLOGY ASSESSMENTS

All Examinations in June, Year 2

Paper 1: Written Examination

Units 1-4

2hrs, worth 35% of A Level

Short & long answer questions including extended

answers. Relevant practical skills will be assessed.


Units 5-8





Units 1-8

2hrs, worth 30% of A-Level

Structured & Extended Response including practical

skills. Critical analysis of data. Extended essay

question, 1 essay from 2 choices

Practical Skills will be developed during regular

laboratory sessions. Students will be expected to

keep a Lab Book, which is assessed by AQA.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Exam Board AQA

Year 1: Units 1-4

Year 2: Units 5-8

Units

1. Biological molecules

2. Cells

3. Organisms exchange substances with

their environment

4. Genetic information, variation &

relationships between organisms

5. Energy transfers between organisms

6. Organisms respond to changes in their

internal and external environment

7. Genetics, populations, evolution &

ecosystems

8. The control of gene expression

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Kevin Marshall

[email protected]

A LEVEL CHEMISTRY


GCSE Chemistry B or above


A or above


AQA BIOLOGY ASSESSMENTS



Units: Physical chemistry 3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 to 3.1.8

and 3.1.1 to 3.1.12. Inorganic chemistry 3.2.

Relevant practical skills.


Short & long answer questions


Units Physical chemistry 3.1.2 to 3.1.6 and 3.1.9.

Organic chemistry 3.3. Relevant practical skills.





Units All content including all practical skills.


Structured & Extended Response including practical

skills. Critical analysis of data. Extended essay

question, 1 essay from 2 choices


laboratory sessions. Students will be expected to keep

a Lab Book, which is assessed by AQA.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Exam Board AQA

Year 1:

Physical Chemistry Atomic Structure,

Amount of substance, Bonding,

Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria, Redox

Inorganic Chemistry Periodicity, Group 2:

Alkaline Metals, Group 7: The Halogens

Organic Chemistry Alkanes,

Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols,

Organic Analysis

Year 2:

Physical Chemistry Thermodynamics,

Rate Equations, Equilibria, Electrode

potentials, Acids & Bases

Inorganic Chemistry Period 3 elements,

Transition Metals, Reactions of Ions in

Aqueous solutions

Organic Chemistry Optical Isomerism,

Aldehydes & Ketones, Carboxylic Acids,

Aromatics & Amines, Polymers & Amino

acids, Organic Synthesis, Chromatography


Mark Woods

[email protected]

A LEVEL COMPUTING

A LEVEL ASSESSMENTS


Paper 1: On-Screen exam: 2 hour 30 minutes

40% of A level

This paper tests a student's ability to program, as well as their

theoretical knowledge of Computer Science from subject

content 1-4 above and the skills required from section 13

above. Students answer a series of short questions and

write/adapt/extend programs in an Electronic Answer

Document.

We will issue Preliminary Material, a Skeleton Program and,

where appropriate, test data, for use in the exam.

Paper 2: Written exam: 2 hour 30 minutes

40% of A level

This paper tests a student's ability to answer questions from

subject content 5-12 above.

Compulsory short-answer and extended-answer questions.

Non-exam assessment: The Computing Practical

Project

20% of A level

The non-exam assessment assesses student's ability to use

the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve a

practical problem. Students will be expected to follow a

systematic approach to problem solving, as shown in section

13 above.


GCSE Computer Science / Computing B or above


COURSE STRUCTURE

A Level Content

1. Fundamentals of programming

2. Fundamentals of data structures

3. Fundamentals of algorithms

4. Theory of computation

5. Fundamentals of data representation

6. Fundamentals of computer systems

7. Fundamentals of computer

organisation and architecture

8. Consequences of uses of computing

9. Fundamentals of communication and

networking

10. Fundamentals of databases

11. Big Data

12. Fundamentals of functional

programming

13. Systematic approach to problem

solving

14. Non-exam assessment - the computing

practical project


Stephen Agnew

[email protected]

A LEVEL ENGLISH


GCSE English B or above

English Literature

If you elect to study English Literature you will study

the following modules:

Drama 1 Shakespeare & 1 other drama (e.g. Doctor

Faustus)

Prose 2 prose texts on a chosen theme (e.g. Science or

The Supernatural)

Poetry Various poems studying poetic form, meaning

and language

Coursework Free choice of 2 texts (poetry, drama,

prose or literary non-fiction) to study linked by theme,

movement, author or period (e.g. Isaac Asimov, End of

Eternity, Edwin Abbot, Flatland)

The assessment will consist of

end of year examinations plus a

coursework component.

English Language

If you elect to study English Language you will study

the following modules:

Language Variation Language to create personal

identities, Language variation c1550 to present

Child Language Acquisition and writing from 0 to 8,

Spoken language & Literacy skills including beginnings

of reading, Theories of language development

Investigating Language Personal research focus

Crafting Language Coursework researching a selected

genre, demonstrating their skill as writers and

reflecting on research


end of year examinations plus

a coursework component.


Tom McNaught

[email protected]

CAMBRIRDGE TECHNICALS LEVEL 3

EXTENDED CERTIFICATE IN

ENGINEERING


GCSE Engineering B or above

or GCSE Resistant Materials B or above

COURSE ASSESSMENTS

Unit 1

A 1hr 30 min exam comprising of short

answer questions and extender response

tasks.

Unit 2



tasks.

Unit 3



tasks.

Unit 4



tasks.

Unit 9

A portfolio of design solutions produced

in A3 in response to a locally produced

design brief and assignment.

Unit 19

A portfolio evidence produced in

response to a locally produced

assignment.

COURSE STRUCTURE

YEAR 1 UNITS

Unit 1 – Mathematics for Engineering

Mathematics is one of the fundamental tools of the engineer.

This unit will develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of

the mathematical techniques commonly used to solve a range of

engineering problems.

Unit 2 – Science for Engineering

In this unit we focus on the science which supports mechanical

engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, fluid

dynamics, thermal physics and material science for engineering.

Unit 3 – Principles of Mechanical Engineering

Engineers need to understand the principles that govern the

behaviour of these components and mechanisms. This unit

explores these principles and how they are applied.

YEAR 2 UNITS

Unit 4 – Principles of Electronic and Electrical Engineering

This unit will develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of

the fundamental principles that underpin electrical and electronic

engineering.

Unit 9 – Mechanical Design

The successful manufacture of mechanical components and

products depends on well planned, accurate and complete

design solutions. The aim of this unit is for learners to develop

the knowledge, understanding and skills to be successful in their

design of mechanical engineering components and products.

Unit 19 – Computer Aided Manufacture

The aim of this unit is for learners to understand how CAM

systems are used within manufacturing and be able to program

and use Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to

produce components.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE

CONTACT

Dan Laidler

[email protected]

THIS COURSE HAS THE EQUIVALENT UCAS POINTS OF A FULL A-LEVEL

A LEVEL FURTHER MATHS


GCSE Mathematics A or above

Must be studying A Level Maths

EDEXCEL MATHS ASSESSMENTS

Examinations take place in June at the end of

each year.

Each module has a written paper associated with

it (1hr30mins).

Each paper counts towards 1/6th of the final GCE

grade or 1/3rd of the AS grade

Optional Modules:

Further Pure 3

Decision 2

Statistics 2

Statistics 3

Mechanics 3

Mechanics 4

The exam board allocates modules to ensure the

highest possible grade in A Level Maths, before

the highest grade in Further Maths is calculated.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Year 1: Further Pure 1, Statistics 1 and

Decision 1.

Year 2: Further Pure 2 plus a choice of

two further modules.

Units

Further Pure 1 – Complex and

imaginary numbers, numerical

solutions of equations, Coordinate

systems, matrix algebra, series, proof

by induction.

Statistics 1 – Location of data,

measures of dispersion, representation

of data, probability, correlation,

regression, discrete random variables

and the normal distribution.

Decision 1 - algorithms, graphs and

networks, route inspection, critical path

analysis, linear programming and

matchings.


Tom McNaught

[email protected]

A LEVEL GEOGRAPHY


GCSE English B or above

GCSE Maths B or above

GCSE Science B or above

GCSE Geography is not required

Year 2: Human Geography & Fieldwork Section A • Global Systems and Global Government • Changing Places Section B (one from) • Contemporary Urban Environments • Population and the Environment • Resource Security Plus 2 days’ worth of fieldwork covering one part of the specification


end of year examinations plus a

coursework component.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Year 1: Physical Geography & People and the Environment Section A • Water and the Carbon Cycle Section B (one from) • Hot Desert Environments • Costal systems and Landscapes Section C (one from) • Hazards • Ecosystems under stress • Cold Environments Plus 2 days’ worth of fieldwork covering one part of the specification


end of year examinations plus

a coursework component.


Tom McNaught

[email protected]

A LEVEL MATHS


GCSE Mathematics A or above

Mechanics 1 – Mechanics especially

supports Physics and Engineering, although

aids many of our other A Levels.

Consists of mathematical models, vectors,

kinematics, dynamics, statics & moments.

Mechanics 2 – Kinematics of a particle

(stationary and under projectile motion),

Centres of Mass of uniform and non-uniform

bodies, Work & Energy, Collisions and the

conservation of Momentum, Statics of a

particle

EDEXCEL MATHS ASSESSMENTS

Examinations take place in June at the end of

each year.

Each module has a written paper associated with

it (1hr 30mins).

Each paper counts towards 1/6th of the final GCE

grade or 1/3rd of the AS grade

COURSE STRUCTURE

Year 1: Core 1 and Core 2

plus Mechanics 1

Year 2: Core 3 and Core 4

plus Mechanics 2

Units

Core 1 – Algebra and functions,

indices and surds, coordinate

geometry, equations and inequalities,

sketching curves, arithmetic sequences

quadratic functions, differentiation and

integration.

Core 2 – More algebra, coordinate

geometry, differentiation and

integration and also logs, binomial

expansion, graphs of trig functions,

radian measure, trig identities and

geometric sequences.


Tom McNaught

[email protected]

A LEVEL PHYSICS


GCSE Physics B or above


A or above

plus GCSE Mathematics A or above

AQA PHYSICS ASSESSMENTS



Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.1 (Periodic Motion)


Multiple choice & Structured questions


Units 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 & 8


Multiple-choice & Structured questions


Section 1: Practical Skills & Data Analysis

Section 2: One Choice of Units 9-13


Structured & Extended Response


laboratory sessions. Students will be expected to keep

a Lab Book, which is assessed by AQA.

Specialist Subject is chosen by student in year 2.

Studied parallel to core content through various

Research Projects.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Year 1: Units 1-5

Year 2: Units 6-8 plus one specialist

choice from 9-13

Emphasis is on synoptic ability, all the

papers assume knowledge of units 1-5

and all assess Practical Skills.

Specialist Subject chosen in June Year 1.

Units

1. Measurements & Errors

2. Particles & Radiation

3. Waves

4. Mechanics & Materials

5. Electricity

6. Further Mechanics & Thermal Physics

7. Fields and their Consequences

8. Nuclear Physics

9. Astrophysics

10. Medical Physics

11. Engineering Physics

12. Turning Points in Physics

13. Electronics


Tom McNaught

[email protected]

A LEVEL PRODUCT DESIGN


GCSE Product Design B or above

or GCSE Resistant Materials B or above

or GCSE Graphic Products B or above

A LEVEL ASSESSMENTS

In the first year you’ll have two assessments. A two hour written paper accounts for 25% of your total marks. The coursework and your design portfolio account for another 25% of your marks. Year two is the same. A two hour written paper accounts for 25% of your marks and the coursework and your design portfolio account for the final 25% of your A Level marks. Skills you will develop:

The D&T Product Design3D will help you develop a number of skills: - How to assemble data and assess it - How to investigate facts and use deduction - How to put over your point of view fluently - How to work as a team to achieve results - How to take responsibility for your own learning. Entry requirements for the course.

You need at least B grade at GCSE to join the

course.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Product Design - AS Course

Unit 1- Materials, Components, and application In ‘Materials, components and application’ - you’ll look at materials, production processes and the impact of cost and design.

Unit 2- Learning though designing and making In ‘Learning through designing and making’ you’ll produce some coursework using your own design with a range of materials and media.

Product Design – A2 Course

Unit 3 – Design and manufacture

Helping you to appreciate the relationship

between design and technology, or form and

function.

Unit 4 – Designing and making practice

‘Design and making in practice’ is the practical, coursework part. You’ll make an object and record the processes that you went through.


Lyle Nicholson

[email protected]

Many thanks to our Industrial and Higher Educationlinks

for their continuedsupport

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